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Pussy Riot Protests Gaza War at Biennale, Exhibitions Shutter

BBC World Service Venice 3d3d Impact 8

The Syria pavilion at the Venice Biennale has a very different feel, following the toppling of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship in December 2024. The world's largest contemporary art exhibition opened today in Venice, Italy. A speaker highlighted the personal importance of a Palmyran tomb, noting its presence in the National Museum of Damascus and how it served as an inspiration for their art. A painting inspired by a tower tomb is being placed inside the exhibit. Some view art as an act of peace, while others find the situation unacceptable, creating a 'kind of war' around the event. The Venice Biennale this year is noted for featuring a amount of political content. Art collective Pussy Riot stormed the Russian pavilion in bright pink balaclavas earlier in the week.

The Syria pavilion at the Venice Biennale has a very different feel, following the toppling of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship in December 2024. The world's largest contemporary art exhibition opened today in Venice, Italy. A speaker highlighted the personal importance of a Palmyran tomb, noting its presence in the National Museum of Damascus and how it served as an inspiration for their art. A painting inspired by a tower tomb is being placed inside the exhibit. Some view art as an act of peace, while others find the situation unacceptable, creating a 'kind of war' around the event. The Venice Biennale this year is noted for featuring a amount of political content. Art collective Pussy Riot stormed the Russian pavilion in bright pink balaclavas earlier in the week. This action occurred during a protest against Russia's return to the Biennale for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Topics

art exhibition Syria political change

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Sources · 7 independent

BBC World Service

“There's also a very different feel around some of the pavilions, including Syria's, after the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December 2024.”

WAMU 88.5 DC

“To Venice now, to the Biennale, the world's largest contemporary art exhibition. It's held every two years and today it was open to the public.”

WBUR Boston

“To Venice now, to the Biennale, the world's largest contemporary art exhibition. It's held every two years and today it was open to the public. And this year there have been protests over Russian and Israeli participation.”

BBC WS backup

“This Palmyran tomb is very interesting to me. It's so important. I used to love it. In the National Museum of Damascus, there is a tomb underground.”

BBC WS backup

“ago and to put my painting inspired by this tower tomb inside.”

BBC WS backup

“to put my painting inspired by this tower tomb inside.”

BBC WS backup

“discussion of those who are for and those who are against... it is affecting a lot the Biennale... it is unacceptable for me.”

WNYC 93.9 FM

“very much a lot of politics this year in the Biennale with...”

WAMU 88.5 DC

“At a protest earlier in the week against Russia's return to the Biennale for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, art collective Pussy Riot stormed the Russian pavilion in bright pink balaclavas.”

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